First Falcons Connect (FFC) is an optional first-year experience for first-generation college students at Bentley University. Participating students will experience their first year of college through a cohort structure supported by fellow first-year students, upper-class peers, faculty, and staff—all of whom are first-generation college students. FFC cohorts will move together through the Bentley first-year experience, including the New Falcon Experience (one week before fall classes begin), Falcon Discovery Seminar 100 (fall semester) and Career Design Introduction 101 (spring semester). Students in FFC will also be invited to live in the First-Gen Defined Community in Bentley’s first-year residence halls. The primary benefit of the program is the support of a tight-knit community of first-gen peers, faculty, and staff to guide students through their first-year transition. Students who are part of the Honors Program or the FirstGen Presidential Fellows at Bentley are not eligible to apply for the First Falcons Connect program.
Be Part of First Falcons Connect
Falcon Discovery Seminar (FDS 100)
FDS is designed to welcome Bentley first-year students into our academic community and to inspire students to commit to lifelong learning. Each FDS section explores a “wicked problem” that involves a creative approach to problem solving and a willingness to entertain new ideas and critically evaluate information. FDS sections are co-taught by a full-time Bentley faculty member and an upper-class student peer leader.
FDS 100 is a required course for all first-year Bentley students. Students in First Falcons Connect will take this course with their FFC cohort, and their professor and student peer leader will both be fellow first-gen students like themselves. In fall 2025, FFC students will take one of two FDS themes: “fast fashion” or “the power of a story.”
Career Design Introduction (CDI 101)
CDI equips first-year students with a comprehensive career toolkit and the ability to understand and “tell their story.” The course is the first step in a four-year program designed to support Bentley’s belief that competence, confidence, and community lead to meaningful careers and lives. CDI 101 teaches students how to identify their personal strengths and talents, how to write a resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile, how to develop an elevator pitch and effective interviewing skills, and how to search for and secure internships.
CDI 101 is an optional, non-academic course for all Bentley first-year students, over 95% of whom take the class each year. FFC students will experience an enhanced version of the course that includes financial literacy skill-building. This version of CDI 101 is only available to FFC students in academic year 2025-2026.
FirstGen Defined Community
The Defined Communities at Bentley provides a rich environment of learning within the residence halls. Each community provides dedicated spaces for students with similar interests and passions to live and learn around a central theme or academic focus. The FirstGen Defined Community, located in Miller Hall, is designed for students who are the first of their family to attend college. First-generation students within this community create a social support network, participate in floor programs, visit surrounding areas, and interact with faculty and staff to enhance their sense of belonging at Bentley.
We encourage students to participate in the FirstGen Defined Community if they would like to meet and learn from faculty and staff partners who also identify as firstgen, interested in learning how to self-advocate and effectively use available campus resources and engage as a peer in a community-wider firstgen support system.
First Falcons Connect Student, Faculty, and Staff Support Team
First Falcons Connect students will be supported by a dedicated team of first-gen student peer leaders, faculty and staff who bring years of inclusive teaching practices and experience supporting a diverse range of students throughout their college journey. This team ensures that FFC students receive high-quality guidance and support tailored to their unique needs as first-generation college students. Please note: student peer leaders for the 2025-2026 academic year have not yet been selected, so are not listed here, but will be added soon.
Karen Fisher is a passionate educator, mentor, and leader with a doctorate in human and organizational learning. Her expertise includes leadership, organizational culture, change management, and organizational behavior, and her career spans Fortune 100 organizations, consulting, higher education leadership, and teaching. Karen is deeply committed to creating engaging and supportive learning environments where all students feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to succeed—especially first-generation college students. She believes learning should be practical, meaningful, and connected to the real world, helping students build confidence, strengthen leadership skills, and prepare for their future careers. A TEDx speaker and dedicated disability rights advocate, Karen is passionate about accessibility, inclusion, and student success—and when you see her, ask about her pug named Doug!
Jim is an educator, scholar, and lifelong learner who is dedicated to deepening engagement with arts and humanities as a force for shaping ourselves and our relationship to the world. His scholarship reflects this dedication, specifically focusing on Latinx Literature and Culture, Indigenous Studies, and Comic Books Studies. The question guiding his recent research involves the impact of technology and how Latinx writers and artists challenge audiences to reconsider and reimagine how we work, care, and live in the age of advanced technology. Jim is active in building an inclusive and supportive learning environment, which includes directing the Ethnic Studies Minor Program and serving on the Indigenous Education Steering Committee, Contexts and Perspectives Committee, and the Planning Committee for the Annual Martin Luther King Day of Celebration. Alongside his service to the university, he is committed to mentoring and advising students as a teacher in his Falcon Discovery Seminar and in his current role as the faculty advisor for the Bentley student chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA).
With over 30 years of dedicated service in the field of career development, Kristine Vidic has established herself as a leading expert and advocate for career equity and access. As the Senior Associate Director and Career Equity and Access Specialist at the Pulsifer Career Development Center, Kristine has been instrumental in guiding countless individuals towards achieving their professional goals. Her extensive experience includes teaching career development, creating workshops on various career topics, developing a career colleague peer-to-peer program, and creating a career closet.
Kristine's passion for career development is matched only by her commitment to equity and access. She has been a driving force behind initiatives aimed at breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups. Her work has not only transformed individual lives but has also had a lasting impact on the broader community. Kristine is particularly passionate about helping first-generation students navigate their career paths, ensuring they have the support and resources needed to succeed.
Edgar Morales (He/Him/His) is an Assistant Director in the Student Financial Services office at Bentley University. He works directly with the First-Gen Presidential Fellows program and the Swipe Out Hunger program. Edgar joined the Student Financial Services team in August 2023 as an administrator and was later promoted to Assistant Director in May 2024. He has prior experience working for a non-profit based in Pittsburgh, where he worked closely with underrepresented populations. He created and implemented programs that focused on college enrollment and retention. He’s passionate about higher education and advocating for educational equity. Edgar is from Princeton, New Jersey and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s in Economics and Spanish. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, running, and attending to sporting events.
As the Director of Undergraduate Academic Advising, I have the privilege of leading our dedicated advising team and shaping the undergraduate advising experience. Collaborating closely with leadership in the Office of Student Success and Academic Affairs, as well as engaging with various campus stakeholders, I focus on academic strategic planning and fostering a vibrant Bentley community. A lifelong resident of the Boston area, I am an avid Boston Bruins fan. In my free time, I love to read, play golf, travel, and spending time with family.